The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-11-30
TIE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
THE ANNUAL sTATENiHSC or Y..E
AFFAIRS OF SrATE.

AFFAIRS OF SrATE.
Suggestions Concerning Different ai.ttora|
of Interest and importance to the Com
m"nweal,h.
The usual annual message OF the
Governor was read to the Legislature
Tuesday. The topics discussed in the
document are as follows;
THE STATE DHBr.
I g outstanding debt of the State is
$G,4J1,uUO. OF this amount $277, 900
consist 81 the estimated validity in those
| bonds issued between 1868 and 1872 and
of the auto bcllum bonds which huYonot
yet been consolidated under the Set Of
1873. There is every reason to believe
that O large proportion OF these old
bonds have been lost or destroyed, and
| that the State viii never be called uDOn
to redeem them. The CoppJroller CscD-
eral reports that bUt kew OF these bonds
are being funded and recommends that
limit be put TO the timo WHOM they may
be exchanged, except by special jcgisle-
ton. AS our whole State debt must b,
readjusted in 1893, the date OF its ma
turity, the Governor regards this recon
menintion as sound policy and com
mcnds it to the consideration Of the
Legislature.
During the past year the Sinking Fund
Commission has cancelled $32, $3.50 OF
Deficiency bonds, and will soon take ND
about $40, 600 morC-lCaving about
$1,000 600 of these boudS to be met at
maturity. The Governor recommends
that the State borrow that sum, at 1 to
i! per cent, TO take up these bonds lie
also recommends the ultimate funding
of the whole debt at i per cent.
FORFEITED LANDS.
BY reference to the report Of the Com
miasioncrs Of the Sinking Fund it will
be found that there were op Tie forfeited
land list 4t the ED OF the fiscal year
ending October 81, 1886, 05l, 237 ncIcs
That during the present fiscal year, end
ing October 81, 1887, new }oifeituros
have been incurred which amount 70
lOO,0l5 acres, the whole amounting in
the aggregate to |, ,O1l,2o acres.
During the present fiscal year 1929
acres of land have been sold orTellcgmJJ,
and 81, III acres have been stricken from
the forfeited list as erroneous entries,
and still there remains on this list q net
acreage of 9ll,S53 acres. Whist tie
foregoing exhibit shows that the acruag ge
time is 39,3S3 acres less than at the yalrg.
time last year, it viii DO seen on cXaus-
nation that this decrease is Lot Que to-
the. fact that taxes have been moe
promptly paid, but TO Tie activity ana
efficiency OF the Land Douurtmout IL
ciiechng Gales ana rcdcmp.iuus os for
fcited lands and in disco erluw &l,,
eliminating erroneous iug.cturvs thu.
had crept into the forfeited iSt from
1868 to 1856. The TACT tnDl iOJ,OiJ
acres OF new torieituycs have been ia
CURED during the present fiscal year is u
matter OF serious moment to the state,
and great Injustice to those citizcn3
whose patriotism and sense Of duty CON
strain item to pay their taxes.
70 enact law that viii nbato This
great and growing evil is matter, there
fore, for the most earnest Consideration
OF the Legislature.
The Governor then reviews the course
of legislation upon this matter showing
that the effect OF legislation and OF the
decisions OF the Counts has been to ia
crease lorfeitures. The Governor recon-
men Is legislation to give purchaser Of
forfeited lands good title, and to enable
the Sinking Fund Commission 10 collect,
through the Courts, back taxes now un-
paid. The new law is suggested as ri
addlt ~ TO, and not a substitute for, the
means low afforded to The Commission
TO cilcco saIc 4 redcmptOnS,
EDUCATION.
Touching the public schools the Gov
crnor refers to the report of the '5upcliu-
tondent Of Education, and suggests II
general law to authorize districts 10 levy
local taxes, together with such other
measures as will lengthcn ti!o schooltcrm
and increase the general efficiency Of the
schools.
The South Carolina College is slloWn
to be in prosperous condition, both rs
regards the number OF students and the
general efficiency OF the institution. Tie
Governor calls attention 10 the statement
of the Trustees that 'its true development
| should be in the direction Of University
methods and work." and commends to
the General Assembly their scheme to be
submitted, "for the reorganization OF the
institution on University basis.
The Citadel Academy is reported TO be
in excellent condition, and both gindu-
ates and cadets making fine record for
themselves and for the State. Ant pat
ing the need OF large accommodations,
the Governor calls attention to the States
| CltSlIu uSdilloI bIC CDlJt'Nl LOlutlS SOTGIH-
ment, for use OF the Academy buildings
and for the value of the portion destroyed
by fire while III such use. He sincerely
trusts that the present Congress viii ac-
knowledge the justice OF the claim and
order its payment"
Clatlin University, for colorcd pupils,
is reported in satisfactory condition.
The same report is made OF the institu-
ton for the deaf, dumb and blinG at
Cedar Springs.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The Governor reviews tho operations
of the State Department OF Agriculture
and concludes:
"The statistical report Of the Depart.
mcnt shows an increase over last year IL
the amount and value of the crops OF the
State. The seasons were generally favor
able, and tho farmers have realized NOR,
I, abundant harvestg. The cotton crop WI
exceed the crop OF 1886 by rs, LII bales
while the yield of com VIII exceed Tia,